Oral Answers to Questions

James Davies Excerpts

Tuesday 15th December 2020 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of hydrogen energy.

[Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of hydrogen energy.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Alok Sharma)]

Both the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan and our energy White Paper, which we published yesterday, set out our bold ambition for the UK to be a world leader in low-carbon hydrogen. As set out in the White Paper, we are determined to make tangible progress in this important sector, including by investing £240 million through the net zero hydrogen fund and supporting industry to begin a hydrogen heating trial in an entire neighbourhood by 2023. We will publish a comprehensive hydrogen strategy early next year.

[Dr James Davies]

The development of hydrogen energy can lead to thousands of new jobs UK-wide, including an estimated 6,000 in my region through the HyNet project. Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to help HyNet access industrial decarbonisation challenge funding to allow it to progress?

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this is all about jobs—high value-added jobs. He, along with other colleagues in the House, makes the case at every opportunity for the HyNet project, and it is very lucky to have him as a champion. As he will know, HyNet has already received funding through phase 1 of the industrial decarbonisation challenge, as well as £13 million of support through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy energy innovation programme. We will announce the winners of the next phase of the industrial decarbonisation challenge in spring next year.